Perceived Parenting Styles as Predictor of Internet Addiction in Adolescence

Abstract

This study examined the perceived parental styles as predictors of Internet addiction in adolescence. The subjects of the study were a total of 419 high school students including 238 female and 181 male students whose mean age was 16.5. Personal information form, "Internet Addiction Test" and "Perceived Parenting Style Scale" was used for the collection of research data. In data analysis, techniques of t test, F-test, simple correlation, and regression analysis was utilized. The results revealed that perceived parenting style vary significantly related to Internet addiction level. Adolescents with partial Internet addiction perceived more democratic their parental style than non-addictive adolescents; while adolescents with partial symptoms and pathological Internet addicts have perceived their parents more protective-demanding and authoritarian compared to non-addictive adolescents. Moreover, Internet addiction level differed according to gender of adolescence that male adolescents were found to suffer more from problematic Internet addiction than girls. Based on the findings, implication was discussed.